The Brazilian national team suffered a worrying blow before the start of the 2026 World Cup, as the participation of their star Neymar Junior in the opening match against Morocco became uncertain due to a recent muscle injury.
Rodrigo Lasmar, the Brazilian team’s doctor, revealed that medical examinations of the Santos striker showed a second-degree muscle tear in the calf, explaining that his expected absence could range between two to three weeks before regaining full fitness.
The “Seleção” will be deprived of their captain’s services during the two friendly matches against Panama and Egypt, scheduled as part of the World Cup preparation program, increasing doubts about his availability for the match against Morocco on June 13.
Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti had reinstated Neymar to the Brazilian national team after an absence of more than two years, with the aim of benefiting from his experience before participating in the World Cup finals for the fourth time in his international career.
The Brazilian star arrived at the national team’s camp in Teresópolis near Rio de Janeiro, but he only observed the first training session without participating due to the injury.
Neymar’s last official appearance in the Brazilian national team jersey dates back to October 2023 when he suffered a severe knee injury during the match against Uruguay in the World Cup qualifiers.
